Safety-hanger for brake-beams



J. C. HANKS.

SAFETY HANGER FOR BRAKE BEAMS. APPLICATION FILED AUG.9.1919.

1,327,909, I Patented Jan. 13,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. J7

J. C. HANKS.

SAFETY HANGER FOR BRAKE BEAMS.

A-PPLKZATION FILED AUG-9, I9l9- Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEETZ.

UTTE S JOHN C. BANKS, 0F RUSSELL, KENTUCKY.

SAFETY-HANGER FOR BRAKE-BEAMS.

Application filed. August 9, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1,- JOHN C. HANKs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Russell, 1n the county of Greenup and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Hangers for Brake-Beams, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved safety hanger for brake beams, and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device which may be readily and conveniently applied in working position and which operates to support a brake beam in the event such beam should become disconnected and which also operates to prevent the bottoni connection to the brake beam or beams from coming down on the cross ties of the track structure.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character provided with means whereby the same may be supported in working position from the spring plank or plate of a car structure. 1

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved safety hanger for brake beams whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my device will hereinafter be definitely claimed. In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will .now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in bottom plan illustrating a safety hanger for brake beams constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of my improved hanger as herein embodied with certain of the parts omitted.

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of certain parts of my improved hanger and particularly as relates to the means for securing the same to the spring plank or plate.

Fig, 5 is a view in perspective of the lower structure comprised in my improved hanger.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented- Jan. 13,1920.

Serial No. 316,334.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, S denotes a spring plate or plank of a railway truck and which plank or plate is of a conventional type provided with the upstanding and longitudinally disposed flanges 1. V

My improved hanger, indicated in its entirety as H, is supported in working posi= tion by the plank or plate S and extends forwardly and rearwardly thereof so that the same may coact with the pair of brake beams B generally employed in connection with the wheels of a truck.

My improved hanger H comprises two suitably spaced side members M having their central portions connected by the transversely disposed strips or slats 2 which underlie the spring plank or plate S and serves to prevent the conventional bottom connection between the brake beams B from dropping down upon the track structure or more particularly the ties comprised in such structure in the event a beam B should drop as a result of wear or breakage. Each of the side members M comprises a pair of blocks .4. provided in their under faces with the grooves 3ad'apted to receive the upstanding flanges l of the plank or plate S whereby the blocks 4: are operatively engaged with said plank or plate.

The outer face of each of said blocks is provided with a plurality of outstanding and vertically alined eyes 6 which are adapted to be received within a slot or kerf 7 formed in the upper end portion of an arm or strap 8. The arm or strap 8 is provided with the transversely alined openings 9 intersecting the kerf or slot 7 and which openings '9, when the strap or arm 8 is in applied position are substantially in alinement with the eyes 6. Disposed through the alining openings 8 and eyes 6 is a retaining bolt 10 whereby the arm or strap 8 is operatively engaged with the block 4. The lower end portion of the arm or strap 8 is continued by an inwardly directed elongated extension 11 substantially perpendicular thereto and said extension terminates in a depending portion or lug 12.

The arms 8 width their intermediate or concomitant parts are substantially alined transversely of the plank or plate S so that a retaining bolt 14 may be readily engaged with the depending portions or lugs 12 to 110 positively hold or clamp the blocks 4 in applied position upon the flanges 1. It is to be understood that the bolt 1 1 has coacting therewith in a conventional manner a clamping nut 15 so that the blocks 4: may be readily applied to or disengaged from the flanges 1.

It is also to be understood that by the particular construction of the blocks 4 and the parts just described as coacting therewith, each of the side members M may be conveniently employed with the spring planks or plates S now generally in use.

Suitably anchored to the upper face of each of the blocks 4: is an elongated outstanding rod 16 substantially at right angles to the plank or plate Si when the hanger H is in applied position and the outer extremity of said rod 16 is provided with a depending arm or extension 17 preferably integral therewith.

The lower end portions of the depending arms or extensions 17 of each of the members M is seated within an opening 18 in the end portions of a bottom bar 19. The lower end portion of each of the arms or extensions 17 is held within its coacting opening 18 by a pin 20 or the like disposed through the bottom bar 19 and the arm or extension 17. The strips or slats 2 hereinbefore referred to are secured to and connect the bottom bars 19 of the side members M.

A brake beam B is directed between the spaces afiorded by the rods 16 and bar 19 at each side of the plank or plate S and in the event a beam should drop as the result of wear or other breakage the same will be held by either or both of the bottom bars 19 so that the brake beam is maintained substantially in normal position and the possibility of derailment as otherwise liable from a dropped beam is prevented.

It is also believed to be obvious that my improved hanger can be readily applied to working position without removing the brake beams and that it does not interfere with the requisite moving of the beams in either setting or releasing the brakes.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a safety hanger for brake beams constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

A safety hanger for brake beams comprising a pair of blocks positioned adjacent each end of a spring plank in spaced relation to each other, arms secured at one of their ends to said blocks and projecting outwardly therefrom, said arms being bent at their in termediate portions to provide downwardly extending arms, a tenon on the ends of said downwardly extending arms, and a frame provided with mortises in its ends for detachably connecting the frame to said arms.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JOHN C. HANKS.

Witnesses:

S. B. KINMAN, J. W. RAMEY. 

